Five Macomb County schools earn breakfast grants

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Five Macomb County schools are among 75 in Michigan awarded grants to provide healthy breakfasts in more classrooms.

The program is called Building Healthy Communities through Breakfast: First Fuel Breakfast Challenge. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan and the United Dairy Industry of Michigan sponsors the grants.

Statewide, $250,000 will be awarded to schools to help them bring the rate of breakfast participation to at least 60 percent of school lunch participation rates.

“Students who start their day off right with a nutritious breakfast are more prepared to learn and succeed,” said Shannon Carney Oleksyk, dietician and healthy living adviser for the Blues’ Social Mission. “Overall health and educational performance of children improves with a healthy breakfast.”

The five Macomb County schools awarded grants include four in New Baltimore: Anchor Bay Middle School North and Middle School South, Lottie M. Schmidt Elementary and Sugarbush Elementary; and Elmwood Elementary in St. Clair Shores.